Sifter

ABSTRACT

A sifter for use in connection with the sifting of flour or other powdered materials including an annular body defining a chamber open at the ends thereof, a screen mounted in the chamber adjacent one end thereof, a handle integral with the opposing end of the body, an arm spaced from the handle and including a sifter blade extending from one end thereof disposed within the chamber in use and a hinge integral with and resiliently interconnecting the other end of the arm and the outer end of the handle, and accommodating movement of the arm from an as-molded position with the blade disposed outside of the chamber to a rest position with the blade disposed within the chamber adjacent a wall thereof opposite the handle, and further accommodating movement from the rest position to an operated position adjacent the opposing wall of the chamber whereby material disposed within the chamber upon the screen may be sifted therethrough by movement of the blade from the rest position thereof to the operated positions thereof.

United States tn t [45] Patented [73] Assignee Dec. 14, 1971 Nihot Corporation Chicago, 1111.

[54] SllF'llER 5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

209/357, 209/408, 209/417, 222/189 [51] Int. Cl B071) l/02 [50] ll ield 01' Search 209/282,

355, 352, 357, 236, 405, 408, 283, 358, 417-419; ZZZ/184,480,150, 196.3; 210/470 3,047,153 7/1962 Zelinski 3,415,376 12/1968 Smith Primary ExaminerFrank W. Lutter Altorney- Prangley, Clayton, Mullin, Dithmar & Vogel ABSTRACT: A sifter for use in connection with the sifting of flour or other powdered materials including an annular body defining a chamber open at the ends thereof, a screen mounted in the chamber adjacent one end thereof, a handle integral with the opposing end of the body, an arm spaced from the handle and including a sifter blade extending from one end thereof disposed within the chamber in use and a hinge integral with and resiliently interconnecting the other end of the arm and the outer end of the handle, and accommodating movement of the arm from an as-molded position with the blade disposed outside of the chamber to a rest position with the blade disposed within the chamber adjacent a wall thereof opposite the handle, and further accommodating movement from the rest position to an operated position adjacent the opposing wall of the chamber whereby material disposed within the chamber upon the screen may be sifted therethrough by movement of the blade from the rest position thereof to the operated positions thereof.

3M2 mm Patentad Dec. 14, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVE/VTOR EFREM M. OSTROWSKY BY WI "hp/5A Mmmm Patentd Dec. 14, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl6m5 This invention is directed to a novel sifter of the type for use in connection with sifting powdered materials such as flour and the like, which sifter is formed of a synthetic organic plastic resin and includes a hinge formed as a part of the device and which interconnects the handle of the device with the sifting blade thereof, whereby powdered materials disposed within the device may be sifted therethrough by movement of the sifter blade from a rest position to an operated position thereof, the hinge automatically urging the return of the sifter blade back to the rest position to prepare for another consecutive sifting cycle.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a sifter comprising an annular body defining a chamber open at the ends thereof, a screen mounted in the body adjacent one end thereof, a handle integral with the opposing end of the body and extending outwardly therefrom, an arm spaced from the handle and carrying thereon a sifter blade at one end thereof, and a hinge integral with and resiliently interconnecting the outer end of the handle and the other end of the arm, the hinge in the as-molded position thereof normally positioning the arm spaced from the handle with the blade spaced from the body and out of the chamber and accommodating movement of the arm toward the handle and movement of the blade to a rest position disposed within the chamber adjacent to the screen and adjacent to the side of the body spaced from the handle and the hinge further accommodating movement of the arm toward the handle and movement of the blade from the rest position thereof to an operated position thereof disposed adjacent to the handle while resiliently urging the arm and the blade from the operated position thereof toward the rest position thereof and in the rest position thereof toward the as-molded position thereof.

lt is another object of this invention to provide a sifter of the type set forth wherein the annular body includes an outer arcuate wall, an inner arcuate wall spaced apart from the outer arcuate wall, and a pair of spaced-apart radial walls interconnecting the outer arcuate wall and the inner arcuate wall, with the handle being integral with and extending outwardly from the inner arcuate wall.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sifter of the type set forth wherein the portions of the annular body disposed below and screen extend convergently inwardly a short distance to form a discharge spout below the screen.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sifter of the type set forth wherein the handle is disposed along the end of the annular body opposite the screen and opposite the arm in the as-molded position thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a sifter of the type set forth wherein the handle and the arm are rigidificd such that only the hinge is resilient for accommodating movement of the arm toward the handle and movement of the blade from the rest position thereof to an operated position thereof disposed adjacent the handle while resiliently urging the arm and the blade from the operated position thereof to the rest position thereof and ultimately toward the as-molded position thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sifter of the type set forth wherein the arm includes a leg extending downwardly from the end thereof opposite the hinge terminating at an end adjacent to the screen and having a sifter blade disposed at the end adjacent the screen and extending laterally outwardly therefrom.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sifter of the type set forth wherein the sifter blade includes a body wall defining an aperture in the central portion thereof, the body wall having beveled edges disposed around the periphery thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sifter of the type set forth wherein the annular body carries a boss at the end thereof opposite the screen and spaced from the handle, and the arm carries an abutment which cooperates with the boss to define a rest position for the arm when the blade is disposed within the chamber.

in connection with the foregoing object, it is a further object of this invention to provide a sifter of the type set forth wherein the annular body includes a peripheral ledge extending outwardly from the end opposite: the screen and adjacent to the handle, the ledge carrying the boss at an end spaced from the handle.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sifter of the type set forth wherein the arm includes a slide flange depending from the underside of the arm and slidable upon the upper surface of the peripheral ledge.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sifter of the type set forth wherein the annular body includes a shoulder disposed along the inner surface of the chamber adjacent one end thereof, the screen being mounted on the shoulder and closing the end adjacent thereto.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts whereby the above-outlined and additional features thereof are obtained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FllG. l is a top plan view of the sifter embodying the principles of the present invention;

MG. 2 is a side elevational view of the sifter of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional partly fnagmented view showing the underside of a portion of the sifting chamber and handle taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 33 in FIG.

l-lG. l is a side cross-sectional view "taken in the direction of the arrows along the line d l in MG. 1;

FlG. 5 is a top plan view of the sifter showing the handle of the sifter in the as-molded position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational partly fragmented view of the arm including the leg depending therefrom and the sifter blade taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 66 in FIG.

F161. '7 is a side cross-sectional view of the sifter blade taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 7-7 in HQ 6;

MG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the handle showing the rigidifying rib taken in the direction of thearrows along the line h-Jl in H6. 5;

H6. '9 is a side cross-sectional view of the arm showing the rigidifying rib thereof taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 9-9 in FlG. s; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side cross-sectional partly fragmented view showing a portion of the discharge spout of the annular body.

Referring now to FIG. ll of the drawings, there is illustrated a sifter Bil made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention. The sifter 20 is generally formed of a synthetic organic plastic resin and is substantially formed as an integral one-piece unit including the sifting chamber, the handle, arm, sifter blade and hinge. The screen is formed as a separate piece and mounted on the device as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The sifter 20 includes an annular body defining a chamber 211 having an open top end 22 and an open lower end 23. The chamber 21 includes an outer arcuate wall 24, and inner arcuate wall 25 which is spaced from the outer arcuate wall 24, and a pair of radial walls 26 interconnecting the outer and inner arcuate walls 24 and 25 respectively. A screen 27 is disposed within the chamber 21 adjacent the lower end 23 thereof. The chamber 2)] is provided with a handle 28 integral with the inner arcuate wall 2% extending laterally outwardly to a distal portion 29 spaced from the chamber 21.

There is also provided an arm 32 spaced apart from the bandle 28 having a proximal end 33 lying adjacent to the inner arcuate wall 25 and extending laterally outwardly to a distal portion 34 spaced apart from the distal portion 29 of the handle 2%. The arm 32 is free-hanging at its proximal end 33 and is movable with respect to the handle 2%. The arm 32 further inoperated positions of the arm 32 and associates sifter blade 37 will be more fully described hereinafter.

The distal portions 29 and 34 of the handle 28 and the arm 32 respectively are integral with and joined together by a hinge 50. The hinge 50 comprises an arcuately shaped resilient rib having a skirt 51 depending therefrom and integral with the skirts 31 and 45 of the handle 28 and arm 32 respectively, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and formed as part of the sifter during the molding operation. The manner of molding the handle 28, arm 32 with the as- 1 sociated leg 35 and sifter blade 37, and hinge 40 produces the hinging action for accommodating movement of the arm 32 and blade 37 toward the handle 28 into its operated position upon the application of a force such as manual pressure, and its automatic return to the rest position upon release of the force, all as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The chamber 21 is further provided with a shoulder 42 extending around the periphery of the inner surfaces adjacent the lower end 23 thereof, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, which is fonned as a part of the sifter 20 during the molding operation thereof. The shoulder 42 accommodates the mounting of the screen 27 which is mounted thereon by any suitable method, the preferred method being by heating the shoulder 42 while pressing the screen 27 thereagainst such that the screen 27 becomes imbedded in the synthetic organic plastic resin material while in a heated state. Upon cooling, the screen 27 is firmly entrapped in the shoulder 42 thereby providing a substantially permanent mount.

The outer arcuate wall 24 and the forward portions of the radial walls 26 of the chamber 21 include a bevel 41 extending along the top end 22 thereof. The provision of the bevel 41 enables the operator to use the chamber 21 as a scoop in order to insert the material to be sifted within the chamber 21 preliminary to the sifting operation.

The lower portions of the outer arcuate wall 24, inner arcuate wall 25, and radial walls 26 immediately below the shoulder 42, are curved convergently inwardly for a short distance to form a discharge spout 40 below the screen 27. The upper end of the inner arcuate wall carries a peripheral ledge 38 extending laterally outwardly therefrom, integral with the handle 28 at its one end and terminating at an end spaced from the handle 28. The ledge 38 carries a boss 39 at the end thereof spaced from the handle 28 which extends downwardly from the underside of the ledge 38 a short distance and cooperates with a stop guide 47 positioned on the underside of the arm 32 to define a rest position thereof as will be more fully described hereinafter.

As was previously described, the handle 28 is integral with and extends laterally outwardly from the inner arcuate wall 25 of the chamber 21 to a distal portion 29. The handle 28 includes an upper surface 30 which is generally integral with the upper edge of the inner arcuate wall 25 and the peripheral ledge 38, and extends convergently outwardly to the distal portion 29 thereof. The handle 28 is further provided with a side skirt 31 which is integral and coextensive with the radial wall 26 adjacent the handle 28, and extends along the length thereof. The skirt 31 provides a convenient grasping surface for the hand of the operator of the sifter 20. The handle 28 may also include a reinforcing rib 43 integral with the inner arcuate wall 25 and spaced apart from the skirt 31, extending convergently upwardly with respect to the upper surface 30 adjacent the distal portion 29 of the handle 28, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. The rib 43 provides additional rigidity and stability for thehandle 28, especially in connection with the consecutive movement of the arm 32 toward and away from the handle 28 during the sifting operation.

The arm 32 similarly includes an upper surface 44 which extends from the proximal end 33 thereof convergently outwardly to the digital portion 34 thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. A side skirt 45 is provided on the arm 32 integral with and extending downwardly from the upper surface 44 thereof, and extending along substantially the entire length thereof and being upwardly curved adjacent the proximal end 33 of the arm 32, as more clearly shown in FIG. 2, the skirt 45 similarly functioning as a grasping surface for the hand of the operator of the sifter 20. The upper surface 44 of the arm 32 includes a flared portion 46 adjacent the proximal end 33 thereof and terminating at a point adjacent to the end of the peripheral ledge 38 spaced from the handle 28. The flared portion 46 cooperates with the boss 39 carried by the underside of the peripheral ledge 38 to define a rest position for the arm 32 and sifter blade 37 when disposed within the chamber 21. The arm 32 is also provided with a side flange 60 carried along the underside and adjacent the proximal end 33 thereof, which is slidable upon the peripheral ledge 38 to facilitate movement of the arm 32 between the rest position and the operated position thereof during consecutive sifting cycles. The slide flange further functions to prevent the operator thereof from pressing the arm 32 and the leg 35 and the sifter blade 37 downwardly against and into the screen 27 thereby causing these parts to bend or crack under excessive pressure. Hence, the slide flange 60 acts as a stop for the sifter blade 37 to insure that the blade 37 will be, at the very most, in slight scraping contact with the screen 27.

The leg 35 depends upon the proximal end 33 of the arm 32 a distance slightly less than the distance between the upper end 22 of the chamber 21 and the screen 27 disposed adjacent the lower end 23 of the chamber 21. The end of the leg 35 adjacent the screen 27 carries the sifter blade 37. which extends laterally outwardly therefrom a distance slightly less than the distance between the outer arcuate wall 24 and the inner arcuate wall 25 immediately above the screen 27. The sifter blade 37 includes a body wall defining an aperture 52 in the central portion thereof and having bevelled edges disposed around the periphery thereof as indicated at 53 in FIG. 7. The sifter blade 37 rides across the screen 27 between the radial walls 26 as the arm 32 is consecutively moved toward the handle 28 and returns to the rest position thereof. Powdered material, such as flour and the like, which is disposed upon the screen 27 is sifted therethrough by the action of the sifter blade 37 moving across the screen incident to the movement of the arm 32 as described. The bevelled edges 53 enable the powdered material to ride up over the body wall of the blade 37 and fall within the aperture 52 as the blade 37 moves across the screen 27. The upstanding surfaces 54 defining the aperture 52 then spread the powdered material out laterally therebetween such that the bottom surface 55 of the blade 37 may then force the material through the screen 27 during consecutive movements of the arm 32 and blade 37 between the rest position and operated positions thereof.

The sifter 20 is formed in a molding operation from a synthetic organic plastic resin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The die members utilized in forming this device have cavities which together correspond with the configuration illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings. In this state of manufacture, the sifter 20 is in the as-molded position, having ,the arm 32 spaced from the handle 28 and the leg 35 and the blade 37 disposed outside of the chamber 21, the hinge 50 being in an unstressed position. The sifter 20 in the as-rnolded position includes all of the elements described hereinabove, with the exception that the screen 27 is formed of a separate material and mounted on the device in a separate operation.

In order for the hinge 50 to be operative as such, the arm 32 must be moved from the first or as-molded position thereof illustrated in FIG. 5 to the second or rest position as illustrated by the solid lines in FIG. 1, wherein the arm is moved toward the handle 28 thereby disposing the leg 35 and blade 37 within the chamber 21 adjacent the radial wall 26 opposite the handle 28. Movement of the arm 32 from the first or as-molded position, as illustrated by the solid lines in FIG. 1, is readily accomplished since the hinge 50 and the associated parts are all flexible whereby the hinge 50 may be stressed to permit movement of the arm 32 toward the handle 23 and disposing the leg 35 and blade 37 within the chamber 2i. In moving the arm 32 from the first or as-molded position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the rest position illustrated in FIG. 1 with the leg 35 and blade 37 disposed within the chamber 31, stresses are produced in the hinge 50 and because of the resilient character of the plastic forming the sifter 20, the stresses are substantially permanent and continually urge the arm 32 toward the first or as-molded position thereof. Once the arm 32 and blade 37 are disposed within the chamber 21 in the second or rest position as shown in FIG. 1 (solid lines), the stop guide 47 on the arm 32 engages the boss 33 on the peripheral ledge 33 to define the rest position, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

From the second or rest position, the arm 32 may be moved into a third or operated position, as indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. ll, by the application of a force such as manual pressure. This movement causes further stresses in the hinge 50 and again because of the resilient character of the plastic forming the sifter 20, these stresses urge the arm 32 from the third or operated position thereof back to the second or rest position thereof, and ultimately toward the first or as-molded position thereof, thereby accounting for the hinging action inherent in this construction.

Although the radial wall 26 spaced from the handle 28 serves as a stop preventing the arm 32 from moving from the second or rest position to the first or as-molded position, in order to prevent damage to the leg 35 and blade 37 during the consecutive movement of the arm 32 toward the handle 23 and back again to the second or rest position thereof, the arm is provided with a stop guide 47 which cooperates with a boss 39 carried by the peripheral ledge 38 to define a rest position for the arm 32 and the associated leg 35 and blade 37 when disposed within the chamber 21. The rest position so defined is arranged such that neither the leg 35 nor the blade 37 will reset against the radial wall 26 when disposed in the rest position. Again, due to the resilient character of the plastic of which the sifter 20 is formed, the arm 32 and associated leg 33 and blade 37 may be alternatively moved from the as-molded position to the rest position manually by raising the arm upwardly such that the leg and blade may clear the upper end 22 of the chamber 21 and be disposed therein with the stop flange 47 engaging the boss 39. Once in this position, the sifter 20 is ready for use.

In order to use the sifter 20, the operator grasps the handle 28 and arm 32 in one hand and scoops the material to be sifted into the chamber 211 by utilizing the bevel 411 provided along the top end 22 of the chamber 211, as previously described, thereby disposing the material upon the screen 27. The arm 32 is then drawn toward the handle 23 by the application of manual pressure, and the hinge 30 will automatically return the arm 32 from the operated position adjacent the handle 23 to the rest position as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 1. This sifting cycle may be repeated as rapidly and as often as necessary in order to sift the material through the screen 27. The powdered material is forced through the screen 27 by the action of the sifter blade 27 as it sweeps across the chamber 2i immediately above the screen 27. As the sifter blade 37 sweeps across the screen 27, material rides up over the bevelled edges 53 of the blade 37 and falls within the aperture 52 thereof. The upstanding surfaces d defining the aperture 52 and the bottom surfaces 55 of the blade 37 force the powdered material through the screen as the blade 37 moves thereacross. The discharge spout 40 directs the powdered material to a landing zone spaced immediately below the area bounded by the screen 27. It will be noted that after the operator has released his grasp from the handle 28 and arm 32, the arm 32 will automatically return and position itself in the second or rest position due to the stresses residing in the hinge 50 and in position for another sifting cycle.

It will be observed that there has been provided an improved sifting device having a self-hinged handle and embodying all the objects and advantages set forth herein. While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

11. A sifter comprising an annular body defining a chamber open at the ends thereof, a screen mounted in said body adjacent to one end thereof and closing said one end and adapted to be disposed downwardly in use, a handle integral with said body and extending outwardly therefrom, an arm spaced from said handle and carrying thereon a sifter blade at one end thereof, and a hinge integral with and resiliently interconnecting the outer end of said handle and the other end of said arm, said body and said handle and said arm and said hinge and said blade being formed as one piece of synthetic organic plastic resin, said hinge in the as-molded position thereof normally positioning said arm from said handle with said blade spaced from said body and out of said chamber, said hinge accommodating movement of said arm toward said handle and movement of said blade into said chamber adjacent to said screen and adjacent to the side of said body disposed toward said as-molded position, a boss carried by said annular body at the end thereof opposite said screen and spaced from said handle, an abutment carried by said arm and cooperating with said boss to define a rest position for said arm when said blade is disposed within said chamber, said hinge further accommodating movement of said arm toward said handle and movement of said blade from the rest position thereof to an operated position thereof disposed away from said side while resiliently urging said arm and said blade from the operated position thereof toward the rest position thereof and in the rest position thereof toward the as-molded position thereof, whereby material disposed in said chamber upon said screen may be sifted therethrough by movement of said blade between the rest position thereof and the operated positions thereof.

2. The sifter device as set forth in claim l, wherein said annular body includes a peripheral ledge extending outwardly from the end opposite said screen and adjacent to said handle, said ledge carrying said boss at an end spaced from said handle.

3. The sifter device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said arm includes a slide flange depending from the underside of said arm and slidable upon the upper surface of said peripheral ledge.

il. The sifter device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said arm and said blade move along an arcuate path with respect to said handle incident to the movement of said arm and said blade from the rest position thereof to the operating positions thereof.

3. A sifter of synthetic organic plastic resin and comprising an annular body defining a chamber open at the ends thereof, said annular body including an outer arcuate wall and an inner arcuate wall spaced apart from said outer arcuate wall and a pair of spaced-apart radial walls interconnecting said outer and inner arcuate walls, a shoulder disposed along the inner surface of said body adjacent to one end thereof, a screen mounted on said shoulder in said body and closing said one end and adapted to be disposed downwardly in use, a handle integral with and extending outwardly from said inner arcuate wall, an arm spaced from said handle and carrying at one end thereof a leg extending in use downwardly therefrom, a sifter blade extending laterally outwardly from the other end of said, leg, a hinge integral with and resiliently interconnecting the outer end of said handle and the other end of said arm, said hinge in the as-molded position thereof normally positioning said arm from said handle with said blade spaced from said body and out of said chamber, said hinge accommodating movement of said arm toward said handle and movement of said blade into said chamber adjacent to said screen and adjacent to the side of said body disposed toward said as-molded tion while resiliently urging said arm and said blade from said operated position thereof toward said rest position thereof and in said rest position thereof toward said as-molded position thereof, whereby material disposed in said chamber upon said screen may be sifted therethrough by movement of said blade between the rest position thereof and the operated positions thereof.

t I! I I! i 

1. A sifter comprising an annular body defining a chamber open at the ends thereof, a screen mounted in said body adjacent to one end thereof and closing said one end and adapted to be disposed downwardly in use, a handle integral with said body and extending outwardly therefrom, an arm spaced from said handle and carrying thereon a sifter blade at one end thereof, and a hinge integral with and resiliently interconnecting the outer end of said handle and the other end of said arm, said body and said Handle and said arm and said hinge and said blade being formed as one piece of synthetic organic plastic resin, said hinge in the as-molded position thereof normally positioning said arm from said handle with said blade spaced from said body and out of said chamber, said hinge accommodating movement of said arm toward said handle and movement of said blade into said chamber adjacent to said screen and adjacent to the side of said body disposed toward said as-molded position, a boss carried by said annular body at the end thereof opposite said screen and spaced from said handle, an abutment carried by said arm and cooperating with said boss to define a rest position for said arm when said blade is disposed within said chamber, said hinge further accommodating movement of said arm toward said handle and movement of said blade from the rest position thereof to an operated position thereof disposed away from said side while resiliently urging said arm and said blade from the operated position thereof toward the rest position thereof and in the rest position thereof toward the as-molded position thereof, whereby material disposed in said chamber upon said screen may be sifted therethrough by movement of said blade between the rest position thereof and the operated positions thereof.
 2. The sifter device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said annular body includes a peripheral ledge extending outwardly from the end opposite said screen and adjacent to said handle, said ledge carrying said boss at an end spaced from said handle.
 3. The sifter device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said arm includes a slide flange depending from the underside of said arm and slidable upon the upper surface of said peripheral ledge.
 4. The sifter device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said arm and said blade move along an arcuate path with respect to said handle incident to the movement of said arm and said blade from the rest position thereof to the operating positions thereof.
 5. A sifter of synthetic organic plastic resin and comprising an annular body defining a chamber open at the ends thereof, said annular body including an outer arcuate wall and an inner arcuate wall spaced apart from said outer arcuate wall and a pair of spaced-apart radial walls interconnecting said outer and inner arcuate walls, a shoulder disposed along the inner surface of said body adjacent to one end thereof, a screen mounted on said shoulder in said body and closing said one end and adapted to be disposed downwardly in use, a handle integral with and extending outwardly from said inner arcuate wall, an arm spaced from said handle and carrying at one end thereof a leg extending in use downwardly therefrom, a sifter blade extending laterally outwardly from the other end of said leg, a hinge integral with and resiliently interconnecting the outer end of said handle and the other end of said arm, said hinge in the as-molded position thereof normally positioning said arm from said handle with said blade spaced from said body and out of said chamber, said hinge accommodating movement of said arm toward said handle and movement of said blade into said chamber adjacent to said screen and adjacent to the side of said body disposed toward said as-molded position, a boss carried by said inner arcuate wall at the end thereof opposite said screen and spaced from said handle, and an abutment carried by said arm and cooperating with said boss to define a rest position for said arm when said blade is disposed within said chamber, said hinge further accommodating movement of said arm toward said handle and movement of said blade from said rest position thereof into an operated position thereof disposed away from said rest position while resiliently urging said arm and said blade from said operated position thereof toward said rest position thereof and in said rest position thereof toward said as-molded position thereof, whereby material disposed in said chamber upon said screen may be sifted therethrough by movement of saiD blade between the rest position thereof and the operated positions thereof. 